Single Idea 4760

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / c. Aim of beliefs]

Full Idea

Knowing is the best kind of believing. Mere believing is a kind of botched knowing. In short, belief aims at knowledge (not just truth).

Gist of Idea

Belief aims at knowledge (rather than truth), and mere believing is a kind of botched knowing

Source

Timothy Williamson (Knowledge and its Limits [2000], §1.5)

Book Reference

Williamson,Timothy: 'Knowledge and its Limits' [OUP 2002], p.47


A Reaction

The difference between aiming at truth and aiming at knowledge has to be in the justificiation, so beliefs aim to be justified. Believers always aim at truth, but they can be strikingly relaxed about justification.